The Best eLearning Authoring Tools
With eLearning becoming more advanced, it’s essential for your learning management system (LMS) to stay updated with the latest tools. Today, more resources are available than ever to help you create engaging online courses and training materials.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind the rising popularity of eLearning authoring tools. We’ll also highlight some of our top picks if you’re looking to start an eLearning project and enhance your online instructional design.
Best eLearning Authoring Tools Comparison
Tool | Features | Pricing | Star Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Articulate Storyline 360 | Drag-and-drop interactions, branching scenarios, responsive design | $1,099/year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Adobe Captivate | VR content, responsive design, video recording | $33.99/month | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Elucidat | Templates, analytics, team collaboration | Custom pricing based on needs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
iSpring Suite | PPT integration, quizzes, video creation | $770/year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Lectora Inspire | Accessible templates, SCORM/AICC compliance | $1,595/year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Gomo | Responsive design, multi-language support, analytics | $1,036/year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Camtasia | Screen recording, video editing, quizzes | $299.99 (one-time) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Thinkific | Course builder, quizzes, multimedia support | $0 - $99/month | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Easygenerator | Drag-and-drop builder, quizzes, mobile compatibility | $83/month | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Adapt Learning | Flexible design, HTML5 output, responsive | Free (open-source) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
DominKnow One | Templates, adaptive content, multi-language support | Custom pricing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Synap | Adaptive quizzes, analytics, personalized study plans | $10/user/month | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Moodle | Modular design, collaborative tools, analytics | Free (open-source) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Tovuti LMS | Virtual classrooms, quizzes, content management | Starting at $775/month | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Quizlet | Flashcards, quizzes, collaborative options | Free - $7.99/month | ⭐⭐⭐ |
What is an eLearning Authoring Tool?
A learning authoring tool is software used to create digital educational content, like e-learning courses, interactive lessons, quizzes, and multimedia resources. These tools enable instructional designers, educators, and training professionals to design engaging and structured learning materials without extensive programming knowledge. Authoring tools often support multimedia integration, interactivity, and various content formats, making them ideal for creating courses for online learning platforms, corporate training, and educational apps.
Why Use Authoring Tools for eLearning?
eLearning authoring tools simplify the eLearning course creation process, allowing you to use interactive templates to create gorgeous and highly interactive eLearning courses for your students in minutes rather than hours or days. There are more benefits to using eLearning authoring tools than just their simplicity, though; they are affordable and allow you to create better and more interactive experiences for students or members of your organization.
Affordability
If you’re short on time to code an eLearning course from scratch but still want a custom experience, outsourcing the work is an option, though it can be quite costly—custom-built eLearning courses can sometimes run into thousands of dollars! With an eLearning authoring tool, however, you can design your course at an affordable rate, typically through a monthly subscription.
No Coding Skills Needed
The biggest advantage of eLearning authoring tools is their simplicity. Most have an intuitive learning curve, so you can grasp the basics in just a few hours and start creating courses within minutes instead of spending months learning to code.
Create Engaging Digital Learning Experiences
eLearning authoring tools encourage creative course design, enabling interactive and responsive elements that go beyond basic videos or text. For instance, you can build simulations that help learners practice skills or see the effects of various actions, which can make lessons more impactful. While simulations might seem complex, they are very achievable with authoring tools, despite being underused in many online courses.
15 Best eLearning Authoring Tools in Detail
There are a lot of eLearning authoring tools on the market, each with its own set of features and unique benefits. From Adobe Captivate to Easygenerator, each tool is different but also tends to bear many similarities to the other options on the list, so it’s important to take a careful look at all of the options to make the best decision for creating your eLearning course.
1. Articulate Storyline 360
Free Course Transcripts
With AI-powered transcription technology, you can convert the content of the course to text in real-time using Maestra’s live transcription tool, %100 free.
2. Adobe Captivate
3. Elucidat
4. iSpring Suite
5. Lectora Inspire
6. Gomo
7. Camtasia
8. Thinkific
9. Easygenerator
10. Adapt Learning
11. DominKnow One
12. Synap
13. Moodle
14. Tovuti LMS
15. Quizlet
How To Choose An eLearning Authoring Tool
There are many factors to consider when deciding on an eLearning authoring tool for your business. Each eLearning authoring tool's features are different, and you might need certain features that are available with one software but not another. When deciding on an eLearning authoring tool for your business, ask yourself these questions:
Some factors may be more important to you than others depending on your business. For example, if you have a large budget to spend on eLearning courses, you might worry less about the budget and instead focus only on finding a tool that suits all of your needs.
Improve Your eCourse with AI
No matter what eLearning tools you’re using to create your eLearning course, it’s important to ensure that your course is accessible to everyone. This means including transcriptions alongside your videos and subtitles within them.
Making your courses multilingual and accessible has never been easier with the use of AI. Now, you can generate subtitles in 125+ languages or provide free transcripts for students with real-time transcription.
Creating eLearning Courses
The best authoring tools will be nimble and flexible, with cloud-based features that eliminate the limitations of the device or operating system. It's important to choose a tool that works for what you and your company need when you create a course; if you aren’t experienced with HTML, for example, you’ll want to seek out a drag-and-drop course creation tool like iSpring Suite Max.
To truly ensure that your courses are accessible and available for everyone, it’s important to include transcriptions and captions with your videos. Maestra Suite makes transcribing easy by providing you with a transcription instantly alongside your uploaded videos, preventing any mistakes and preventing the need for you to manually t ranscribe your videos.
Create an Inclusive eLearning Course Today
A lot of the newest eLearning authoring tools are flexible, cloud-based, and easy to use. You no longer have to worry about the limitations of your device or OS, or worry about the amount of RAM on your computer. As you publish eLearning courses that are accessible to more users, don’t forget to include transcriptions alongside your videos with the help of Maestra AI!
FAQ
What is an authoring tool in eLearning?
An eLearning authoring tool is software that enables creators to design digital courses and training content. It helps build interactive lessons, assessments, and multimedia content without requiring coding skills.
What software is used for eLearning?
eLearning software includes LMS platforms like Moodle and Canvas, as well as authoring tools like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, and iSpring Suite for creating interactive content.
What are some e-learning tools?
Popular e-learning tools include authoring software (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Gomo), video editing tools (e.g., Camtasia), and LMS platforms (e.g., Blackboard, Google Classroom) for managing content and learners.
What is the most popular authoring tool?
Articulate Storyline is one of the most popular authoring tools, known for its flexibility, interactivity, and professional-grade customization options for creating eLearning content.
How do I choose an authoring tool?
Choose an authoring tool by evaluating your needs, considering factors like ease of use, customization options, multimedia capabilities, collaborative features, and compatibility with your LMS or technical requirements.